Problem Savannah Wingo, a 42 year old female poet, whose presenting problem is an attempted suicide, remains hospitalized and is considered a threat to herself. Her fraternal twin, Tom Wingo, an unemployed English teacher and football coach, shared that this is the third known suicide attempt by Savannah. The first suicide attempt occurred at the age of thirteen following a brutal home invasion and rape that also included her mother and twin brother. The last attempt occurred two years prior subsequent to the death of her older brother, Luke Wingo. Tom says that he has been experiencing an increasing sense of worthlessness and marital discord since his brother died. Tom and his wife Sally are involved in intimate relationships outside of their marriage and have made no permanent decisions about their future. They share three daughters ages 6, 9, and 12. Savannah and Tom’s parents, Henry Wingo and Lila Newberry, have a history of violent physical and emotional abuse which led to a divorce 22 years earlier. Lila is remarried to Reece Newberry, a local socialite; Henry remains single and leads a primarily isolated existence. Both parents are …show more content…
The other members of the family have not participated in any interventions or counseling and appear to use avoidance and indifference as coping mechanisms for family dysfunction. Both Tom and Savannah have found some comfort in writing about their past. In addition, Savannah is experiencing repressed memories of childhood traumas. The parents engaged in abusive behaviors towards Savannah and Tom, but Luke positioned himself as protector of his siblings and often took the brunt of the abuse. Luke also suffered depressive and delusional behaviors following his military service. He was killed by government agents while attempting a violent engagement with agency